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Poetry

Al Burda Award honours the significance of poetry as a powerful artistic medium that captures the noble life and unique character of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), through the beauty of language and the eloquence of expression.
By welcoming submissions in Classical Arabic, Nabati poetry, and Free Verse, the award reflects a profound appreciation for the richness of the Arabic language and its literary heritage across the Arab and Islamic worlds.
This poetry category serves as an exemplary tribute to the award’s namesake, Al Burda, drawing inspiration from the iconic Qasidat Al-Burda—a revered ode in praise of the Prophet (PBUH), composed by Imam Al-Busiri during the 7th century of the Islamic calendar (13th century).

Categories & Criteria

Classical Poetry
  • Poem Theme: The poem must address this year’s Al Burda Award theme, “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion.” Any poem that does not adhere to this theme will not be accepted.
  • Poetic Form: The poem must be written in Classical Arabic (Fusha) and must comply with the conventions of classical vertical poetry, including composition in one of the recognised metres of Arabic prosody, while maintaining a unified and consistent rhyme throughout.
  • Number of Verses: The poem must consist of no fewer than 15 and no more than 30 verses.
  • Language and Style: The poem must be written in grammatically and orthographically sound Arabic, with a visual presentation appropriate to the nature of poetic text.
  • Originality: The poem must be an original and new work produced solely by the submitting poet. It must not have been written, developed, or completed in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, any other party.
  • Previous Publication and Participation: The poem must be unpublished in any print or digital medium, including newspapers, magazines, and websites, and must not have been previously submitted to or participated in any awards or competitions.
  • Number of Submissions: Each poet may submit one poem only. Submissions from winners of first or second place in any Award category will not be accepted in the edition immediately following the one in which they won. They may apply again starting from the second edition following their win. (For example, a winner in the nineteenth edition is not eligible to apply in the twentieth edition, and may apply again starting from the twenty-first edition.)
  • Method of Submission: Submissions will be accepted electronically only, by uploading the poem in Word format through the application form available on the Award’s official website.
  • Audio Recording: The poet must also attach an audio recording containing a full reading of the poem through the same electronic application form.
Prizes
  • 1st Prize: AED 100,000
  • 2nd Prize:  AED 70,000
  • 3rd Prize:  AED 40,000
Free Verse Poetry
  • Poem Theme: The poem must reflect this year’s Al Burda Award theme, “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion.” Any poem that does not adhere to this theme will not be accepted.
  • Poetic Form: The poem must be written in Classical Arabic (Fusha) and composed in one of the pure Arabic metrical forms based on a single repeated foot, while also demonstrating careful attention to internal rhythm.
  • Number of Lines: The poem must consist of no fewer than 20 and no more than 35 lines.
  • Language and Style: The poem must be written in grammatically and orthographically sound Arabic, with a visual presentation appropriate to the nature of poetic text.
  • Originality: The poem must be an original and new work produced solely by the submitting poet, and must not have been written, developed, or completed in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, any other party.
  • Previous Publication and Participation: The poem must be unpublished in any print or digital medium, including newspapers, magazines, and websites, and must not have been previously submitted to or entered in any awards or competitions.
  • Number of Submissions: Each poet may submit one poem only. Submissions from winners of first or second place in any Award category will not be accepted in the edition immediately following the one in which they won. They may apply again starting from the second edition following their win. (For example, a winner in the nineteenth edition is not eligible to apply in the twentieth edition, and may apply again starting from the twenty-first edition.)
  • Method of Submission: Submissions will be accepted electronically only, by uploading the poem in Word format through the application form available on the Award’s official website.
  • Audio Recording: The poet must also attach an audio recording containing a full reading of the poem through the same electronic application form.
Prizes
  • 1st Prize:  AED 70,000
  • 2nd Prize:  AED 50,000
  • 3rd Prize:  AED 40,000
Nabati poetry
  • Poem Theme: The poem must reflect this year’s Al Burda Award theme, “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion.” Any poem that does not adhere to this theme will not be accepted.Technical Foundations: The poem must comply with the technical foundations of Nabati poetry in terms of metre, rhyme, poetic techniques, structure, and linguistic composition.
  • Originality: The poem must be an original and new work produced solely by the submitting poet, and must not have been written or completed in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, any other party.
  • Number of Verses: The poem must consist of no fewer than 15 and no more than 30 verses.
  • Language and Style: The poem must adhere to the authentic style of Nabati poetry in its vocabulary and structures. Poems that are predominantly colloquial or overly vernacular in a manner that falls outside the artistic framework of Nabati poetry will be disqualified.
  • Previous Publication and Participation: The poem must not have been previously published in any print or digital medium, including newspapers, magazines, or websites, and must not have been submitted to any other awards or competitions.
  • Number of Submissions: Each poet may submit one poem only. Submissions from winners of first or second place in any Award category will not be accepted in the edition immediately following the one in which they won. They may apply again starting from the second edition following their win.
  • Method of Submission: Submissions will be accepted electronically only, by uploading the poem in Word format through the application form available on the Award’s official website. (For example, a winner in the nineteenth edition is not eligible to apply in the twentieth edition, and may apply again starting from the twenty-first edition.)
  • Audio Recording: The poet must attach an audio recording containing a full reading of the poem through the same electronic application form.
Prizes
  • 1st Prize: AED 100,000
  • 2nd Prize:  AED 70,000
  • 3rd Prize:  AED 40,000